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The 6 Auctions to Bid on in May

A never seen before Picasso and the jaw dropping collection of British novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford, here are our highlights this month.

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Held in the same European private family collection since it was acquired directly from the artist, Nature morte à la bouteille et au violon, 1943 by Swiss-French designer and painter Le Corbusier is being publicly exhibited for the first time since its creation at Phillips's Modern and Contemporary Art Evening Sale. Estimate $1,500,000 - 2,500,000. Courtesy of Philipps.
A meticulously restored 1990 Porsche 911 Classic Turbo, transformed by Singer Vehicle Designs, will be auctioned at Bonhams|Cars' Miami event during the FORMULA 1® CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX 2025 on Saturday, May 3. This represents the first public sale opportunity for this model. Estimated $1.75 to $2.25 million. Photo by Drew Phillips.

Bonhams: The Miami Car Auction

A tribute to south Florida's vibrant motorsports and automotive heritage, Bonhams|Cars will host a special pre-auction reception on May 3 at The 72 Club, culminating in a live auction held directly on the track in front of the Podium of the Hard Rock Stadium during the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix. Throughout the weekend, racing enthusiasts can view the auction vehicles displayed across the venue.

Haddon Sunny Hubbard Sundblom's "Afternoon by the Stream" (1899-1976) captures a serene landscape in vibrant oil on canvas. Estimate $3,000 - $5,000. Courtesy of Doyle.

Doyle: The Collection of Barbara Taylor Bradford

On May 7, Doyle will present an exclusive auction featuring the personal collection of renowned best-selling author, Barbara Taylor Bradford. This sale will offer literature enthusiasts and collectors worldwide the opportunity to acquire distinctive pieces from Bradford's sophisticated Manhattan residence, including fine furniture, decorative arts, original artwork, jewelry, books, and personal memorabilia.

Painted in a resplendent array of vibrant tones, Femme à la coiffe d’Arlésienne sur fond vert (Lee Miller) is one of an important series of seven portraits that Pablo Picasso painted of the celebrated American photographer Lee Miller over the course of a sun-filled sojourn during the summer of 1937. Estimate $20,000,000 – $30,000,000. Courtesy of Christie's.

Christie's: Leonard & Louise Riggio: Collected Works

For over three decades, Barnes & Noble founder Leonard "Len" Riggio and his wife Louise built an exceptional collection of 20th-century art in their New York home. Driven by their intellectual curiosity and exploratory spirit, "Leonard & Louise Riggio: Collected Works,” taking place on May 12, will feature masterpieces from Mondrian's groundbreaking abstraction to Picasso's revolutionary human figures—a comprehensive representation of the century's most innovative artistic achievements.

Painted in 1984, Untitled exemplifies Jean-Michel Basquiat’s raw, gestural power, painterly prowess and his extraordinary ability to unify seemingly disparate themes within a single, electrified surface. Estimate $4,500,000 - $6,500,000. Courtesy of Philipps.

Phillips: Modern and Contemporary Art Evening Sale

Phillips announces a landmark auction on May 13 featuring rare artworks spanning diverse artistic movements, including never-before-publicly offered pieces by Pablo Picasso, Gerhard Richter, Donald Judd, Ed Ruscha, and Olga de Amaral. A special highlight from this sale is a Jean-Michel Basquiat canvas from David Bowie's personal collection.

An extraordinary sculpture by Alberto Giacometti, estimated at over $70 million, will headline Sotheby’s Modern Evening Auction on May 13 in New York. Courtesy of Sotheby's.

Sotheby's New York: The Now and Contemporary Evening Auction

Taking place May 15, the auction showcases works that reflect the revolutionary artistic transformations of the late 20th century. From American and European Post-War abstraction through Color-Field painting, Minimalism, and Pop Art, to the critical postmodern explorations of the 1980s and 1990s, these groundbreaking approaches changed art history and established the foundation for global artistic movements over the next five decades.

Little Girl in Red by Colombian sculptor and figurative artist Fernando Botero. Estimate $180,000 – $250,000. Photo by CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD. 2025.

Christie's: Post-War and Contemporary Art Day Sale

The Post-War and Contemporary Art Day Sale on May 15 will present exceptional works by influential artists spanning the past century. Highlighting the auction are pieces by 20th-century pioneers Joan Mitchell, Fernando Botero, Helen Frankenthaler, and Alexander Calder, alongside works by renowned contemporary artists Richard Prince and Simone Leigh.

The Ultimate Collection Roy Lichtenstein: The Impossible Collection
$1,200 USD
The Ultimate Collection Pablo Picasso: The Impossible Collection
$1,200 USD

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